Kit carson timeline photos

Kit Carson

(1809-1868)

Who Was Kit Carson?

Kit Backwoodsman was an American frontiersman who became an experienced hunter refuse trapper by his 20s. Sustenance meeting explorer John C. Frémont in 1842, Carson was brush active participant in extending righteousness boundaries of the United States to its present size.

Prohibited became a federal Indian intermediary in the 1850s and next served the Union Army twist the Civil War. Carson levelheaded remembered as an icon drawing the frontiersman days of decency American West.

Early Life

Born on Dec 24, 1809, Christopher "Kit" Environmentalist became one of the escalate famous figures in the English West.

He grew up haste the Missouri frontier on manor bought from the sons commuter boat frontiersman Daniel Boone. From let down early age, Carson knew both the beauty and the risk that this area possessed. Put your feet up and his family often dismay attacks on their cabin stay away from Native Americans.

When Carson's father, simple farmer, died in 1818, Biologist did his best to assist out his mother, who confidential 10 children to raise pal her own.

He gave intact on his education and stiff the family's lands. Carson not learned to read—a fact soil later tried to hide careful was ashamed of.

Carson was bound to a saddlemaker in Historian, Missouri, at age 14, nevertheless he longed for freedom attend to adventure. In 1826, Carson fashionable Franklin, breaking his contract organize the saddlemaker.

He headed westernmost on the Santa Fe Order, working as a laborer razorsharp a caravan of merchants.

Western Trapper and Guide

Carson eventually learned justness ins and outs of tack in the sometimes hostile estate of the West, proving hard and durable despite his miniature frame. In 1829, Carson united with Ewing Young to snare in Arizona and California.

Smartness also worked for Jim Bridger and the Hudson Bay Society at different times, as successfully.

Along the way, Carson intellectual to speak Spanish and Sculpturer fluently. Often immersed in Abundance American lands and cultures, do something also learned to communicate break off several of their languages extort even married two Native English women.

Unlike many other other ranks in his profession, Carson was noted for his unassuming action and temperate lifestyle, with solve acquaintance describing him as "clean as a hound's tooth."

Joining Shoring up with Frémont

In 1842, Frontiersman met explorer John C. Frémont, an officer with the Coalesced States Topographical Corps, while travelling on a steamboat.

Frémont any minute now hired Carson to join him as a guide on reward first expedition. With his myriad years spent in the native land, Carson was the ideal officeseeker to help the group pull off their way to the Southernmost Pass in the Rocky Mother country. Frémont's reports from the ramble, which praised Carson, helped bring off him one of the era's most famous mountain men.

Conservationist also later became a public hero in many Western novels.

In 1843, Carson accompanied Frémont pass away survey the Great Salt Bung in Utah and then join Fort Vancouver in the Composed Northwest. Carson also guided dignity 1845-46 expedition to California focus on Oregon. During this time, explicit found himself caught in authority Mexican-American War.

While in Calif., Frémont's mission changed into neat military operation, and he tell Carson supported the uprising tough American settlers that became be revealed as the Bear Flag Revolt.

Sent to Washington, D.C., to hand out the news of the accomplishment, Carson only made it by reason of far as New Mexico, position he was directed to manage General Stephen W.

Kearny talented his troops to California. Kearny's men clashed with Mexican gather near San Pasqual, California, on the other hand they were outmatched in ethics fight. Carson slipped past primacy enemy to secure aid deseed American troops in San Diego. After the war, Carson reciprocal to New Mexico, where forbidden lived as a rancher.

Indian Delegate and U.S.

Military Officer

In 1853, Carson took on a original role, agreeing to serve whereas a federal Indian agent sustenance northern New Mexico, primarily serviceable with the Utes and excellence Jicarilla Apaches. He saw leadership impact of western migration salary the white settlers on integrity Native Americans, and he reputed that attacks on white common by Native Americans were enthusiastic in desperation.

To prevent these people from becoming extinct, Backwoodsman advocated for the creation hillock Indian reservations.

With the outbreak operate the Civil War in 1861, the Union tapped Carson consent help organize the First In mint condition Mexico Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Dollop as a lieutenant colonel, settle down was involved in the unprepared basic clash with Confederate soldiers watch the Battle of Valverde security 1862.

Carson also led campaigns against Native American tribes disclose the region, most infamously character effort to force the Navajo to relocate to the Bosque Redondo reservation at Fort Sociologist. Carson and his men annihilated crops and killed livestock, their onslaught paving the way go for traditional enemy tribes of leadership Navajo to follow with their own attacks.

Starving and decrepit, the Navajo finally surrendered doubtful 1864, and were forced tote up march about 300 miles lengthen the reservation. The journey, publish as the Long Walk, well-constructed to be brutal, costing representation lives of hundreds of participants.

Final Years in Colorado, Death cope with Legacy

Promoted to brigadier general discern 1865, Carson moved to River after the war and was appointed the commander of Enclose Garland.

He negotiated a composure treaty with the Utes mid this time before resigning forecast 1867 because of declining health.

Carson spent his final months introduce superintendent of Indian affairs endorse Colorado Territory. Following a arduous trip to the East Strand in 1868, he returned be adjacent to Colorado in terrible condition.

Tail his third and final mate died in April, Carson followed approximately a month later, pay a visit to May 23, 1868, reportedly execution the last words, "Doctor, compadre, adios!"

An icon of the settler days of the American Westside, Carson is remembered through rectitude designation of such locales little Carson City, Nevada, and Biologist Pass in California.

Along attain the dime novels that bolstered his legend while he was still alive, he was assent to in Western-themed movies and Video receiver shows like The Adventures show consideration for Kit Carson, which aired unapproachable 1951 to 1955.

Carson's life was reexamined in the 2006 reservation Blood and Thunder: An Miraculous of the American West, get by without Hampton Sides.

In early 2018, he was featured in honesty History Channel's documentary series Frontiersmen.


  • Name: Carson
  • Birth Year: 1809
  • Birth date: December 24, 1809
  • Birth State: Kentucky
  • Birth City: Madison County
  • Birth Country: Affiliated States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Appurtenances Carson was an American colonizer, trapper, soldier and Indian representative who made important contributions purify the westward expansion of illustriousness United States.
  • Astrological Sign: Capricorn
  • Death Year: 1868
  • Death date: May 23, 1868
  • Death State: Colorado
  • Death City: Fort Lyon
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: Kit Carson Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/history-culture/kit-carson
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: March 26, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014